This entry was posted in Environment, Mar. 4, 2016 and tagged capital news service, cns, cougars, department of natural resources, dnr, great lakes echo, LIAM TIERNEY, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, u.s. fish and wildlife service by CNS.
Michigan’s cougar
controversy continues
By LIAM TIERNEY
Capital News Service
LANSING — Everybody knows that there aren’t any
cougars in Michigan. These big cats were hunted to
extinction in the state in the early 1900s and despite
34 recent sightings reported in the Upper Peninsula,
it’s safe to say that the cats aren’t back to stay yet.
LANSING — Everybody knows that there aren’t any
cougars in Michigan. These big cats were hunted to
extinction in the state in the early 1900s and despite
34 recent sightings reported in the Upper Peninsula,
it’s safe to say that the cats aren’t back to stay yet.
Right?
According to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
that’s true.
Confirmed picture of a Puma in Michigan-source Michigan
Dept
of Natural Resources--2014;Mackinac County
“They were found in most of Michigan at one time,” said
DNR wildlife management specialist Kevin Swanson. “In
the early 1900s they were being extirpated. The last cougar
harvested in Michigan was in Newberry in 1906.”
that’s true.
Confirmed picture of a Puma in Michigan-source Michigan
Dept
of Natural Resources--2014;Mackinac County
“They were found in most of Michigan at one time,” said
DNR wildlife management specialist Kevin Swanson. “In
the early 1900s they were being extirpated. The last cougar
harvested in Michigan was in Newberry in 1906.”
Swanson said that the 34 confirmed sightings doesn’t mean
34 separate animals. According to the DNR, 23 of these
sightings were photos, eight were tracks, one was video and
animal waste and the final two were carcasses. The most
recent carcass, discovered in a snare Feb. 1 by conservation
officers four miles north of Iron Mountain in Breitung
Township in Dickinson County. The other was poached in
2013 by a hunter in Schoolcraft County.
34 separate animals. According to the DNR, 23 of these
sightings were photos, eight were tracks, one was video and
animal waste and the final two were carcasses. The most
recent carcass, discovered in a snare Feb. 1 by conservation
officers four miles north of Iron Mountain in Breitung
Township in Dickinson County. The other was poached in
2013 by a hunter in Schoolcraft County.
The DNR says it plans to continue enforcing the legal
protection that the cougars are given by the Michigan
Endangered Species Act, which prohibits harming,
capturing or harassing cougars.
protection that the cougars are given by the Michigan
Endangered Species Act, which prohibits harming,
capturing or harassing cougars.
Some people, however, have a bone to pick with the
DNR about the status of the cougar in Michigan. One
of these people is wildlife biologist Patrick Rusz of
the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy in Bath.
DNR about the status of the cougar in Michigan. One
of these people is wildlife biologist Patrick Rusz of
the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy in Bath.
“In 2000 I was given $5,000 to go to the UP and
disprove the rumor that there were cougars
living there,” said Rusz. “I found one in two days.”
disprove the rumor that there were cougars
living there,” said Rusz. “I found one in two days.”
Rusz says that he believes that cougars have been
in the state all along.
in the state all along.
In 1907, one year after the DNR stated that the last
cougar was harvested in Michigan, the Sault St.
Marie Evening News reported on a cougar killed
in a wolf trap in Chippewa County,
cougar was harvested in Michigan, the Sault St.
Marie Evening News reported on a cougar killed
in a wolf trap in Chippewa County,
In 1948, R.H. Manville, a taxonomist, reported
several sightings by “reliable people.”
several sightings by “reliable people.”
In 1966, Francis Opolka, a DNR officer, observed
a cougar in Delta County. Plaster casts of the
animal’s tracks were verified by the University
of Michigan as “that of a large cat.”
a cougar in Delta County. Plaster casts of the
animal’s tracks were verified by the University
of Michigan as “that of a large cat.”
In 1984, blood-covered bone fragments were
recovered from a cougar shot in Menominee
County. The sample was sent to Colorado State
University, where it was determined to have a
“positive identity to a mountain lion.”
recovered from a cougar shot in Menominee
County. The sample was sent to Colorado State
University, where it was determined to have a
“positive identity to a mountain lion.”
These instances were recorded in “Milestones
of the History of Cougars in Michigan,” a
document by the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy.
If reputable sources, and even DNR officers,
continued seeing cougars, then why did the DNR
continue to state that they were extinct in the state,
even up to a February 2016 interview with the
Great Lakes Echo?
of the History of Cougars in Michigan,” a
document by the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy.
If reputable sources, and even DNR officers,
continued seeing cougars, then why did the DNR
continue to state that they were extinct in the state,
even up to a February 2016 interview with the
Great Lakes Echo?
Simply put, Rusz says he believes that the DNR
denies the presence of the cougar in the state
for selfish reasons.
denies the presence of the cougar in the state
for selfish reasons.
In the 1960s, the Florida DNR discovered a
population of panthers (cougars) living in the
wetlands in the southern half of the state.
The federal government gave it $50 million
with which to buy land and educate the public
to protect the animals, but the wetlands
bought by the Florida agency began to
restrict expansions on other projects such
as airports.
population of panthers (cougars) living in the
wetlands in the southern half of the state.
The federal government gave it $50 million
with which to buy land and educate the public
to protect the animals, but the wetlands
bought by the Florida agency began to
restrict expansions on other projects such
as airports.
When the Michigan DNR asked for a similar
grant to investigate the cougars that people
were still seeing in the state, the feds said no.
grant to investigate the cougars that people
were still seeing in the state, the feds said no.
“The cougar went from being a potential cash
cow to a financial albatross.” said Rusz.
cow to a financial albatross.” said Rusz.
From that point forward, Rusz says, the DNR
continued claiming that cougars were an
extirpated species. Cougar sighting were
debunked as escaped pets and the people
who reported them became drunken Yoopers.
It wasn’t until the digital age, when many
people started having camera phones and
trail cameras to catch these animals in action,
that the DNR changed its stance.
continued claiming that cougars were an
extirpated species. Cougar sighting were
debunked as escaped pets and the people
who reported them became drunken Yoopers.
It wasn’t until the digital age, when many
people started having camera phones and
trail cameras to catch these animals in action,
that the DNR changed its stance.
“The escaped pet theory wasn’t gonna fly
anymore. They needed a new excuse.
That’s when they started saying these
animals were transients,” Rusz said.
anymore. They needed a new excuse.
That’s when they started saying these
animals were transients,” Rusz said.
“The ability of the Internet to spread
erroneous information is mind-blowing.
I’m sure there are suits (officials) that
believe this cougar nonsense but the
higher ups are just maintaining the
charade,” he said.
erroneous information is mind-blowing.
I’m sure there are suits (officials) that
believe this cougar nonsense but the
higher ups are just maintaining the
charade,” he said.
“Ask your readers this question. According
to the DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, there were no cougar sightings in
102 years. Not a single confirmation
between 1906 and 2008. Since 2008
they’ve confirmed 34. They’re telling
you that the state was worked over so
well by hunters and trappers that they
killed every animal,” Rusz said.
to the DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, there were no cougar sightings in
102 years. Not a single confirmation
between 1906 and 2008. Since 2008
they’ve confirmed 34. They’re telling
you that the state was worked over so
well by hunters and trappers that they
killed every animal,” Rusz said.
“Do you believe that?”
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CLICK ON THIS LINK TO WATCH VIDEO
FOOTAGE
FOOTAGE
OF A PUMA IN MACKINAC COUNTY,
MICHIGAN IN 2014
MICHIGAN IN 2014
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
released Thursday video footage of a male
cougar at a deer kill site in Mackinac County.
released Thursday video footage of a male
cougar at a deer kill site in Mackinac County.
The sighting and footage are rare as Michigan
doesn't have an established cougar population
, DNR officials say. As of Thursday there have
been 28 confirmed cougar sightings in the
Upper Peninsula since 2008.
doesn't have an established cougar population
, DNR officials say. As of Thursday there have
been 28 confirmed cougar sightings in the
Upper Peninsula since 2008.
"What's interesting about this video is it's the
best footage we've ever come across from
a citizen," said Debbie Munson Badini,
spokeswoman for the DNR. "It's a neat
thing for the public to see. People appreciate
being able to see the wild being wild."
best footage we've ever come across from
a citizen," said Debbie Munson Badini,
spokeswoman for the DNR. "It's a neat
thing for the public to see. People appreciate
being able to see the wild being wild."
The 60-second clip posted to YouTube
Thursday shows the cougar repeatedly
returning to the site to eat a deer. The
video was provided by hunters from
Remus who discovered the deer kill
site. The hunters set up a trail cam
which captured the footage on Dec.
10, 2014 and Dec. 11, 2014.
Thursday shows the cougar repeatedly
returning to the site to eat a deer. The
video was provided by hunters from
Remus who discovered the deer kill
site. The hunters set up a trail cam
which captured the footage on Dec.
10, 2014 and Dec. 11, 2014.
The state doesn't have an established
cougar population, but the animal does
travel through the Upper Peninsula while
searching for a place to set up its territory.
Most are juvenile male cougars traveling
from the Dakotas, Munson Badini said.
cougar population, but the animal does
travel through the Upper Peninsula while
searching for a place to set up its territory.
Most are juvenile male cougars traveling
from the Dakotas, Munson Badini said.
"They travel hundreds and hundreds of
miles to find what they need," she said.
miles to find what they need," she said.
There have been no confirmed sightings
of cougars in the Lower Peninsula,
Munson Badini said.
of cougars in the Lower Peninsula,
Munson Badini said.
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